Brett Gardner had concerns about whether his timing would be there at the plate. And because of his taped-up left thumb, he didn’t have the flexibility he normally has when it comes to either hitting or throwing.
So Gardner wasn’t in the best shape physically yesterday. But he managed to deliver an outstanding game anyway.
In the Yankees’ 9-5 win over the Astros, the left fielder returned to the lineup after not starting any of the previous four games because of that sore thumb. He proceeded to rack up two hits, two walks, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base while making an outstanding catch.
“It’s good to get back out there,” Gardner said. “Obviously when you miss a few days like that, you worry about your timing and you worry about things getting a little funky.
“But I saw the ball well. I was able to see some pitches and put some good swings on the ball.”
Gardner figured the thumb would feel OK, because he replaced Marcus Thames mid-game on Saturday and had two at-bats. But he admitted it’s not right, and might not be for a while.
Gardner also admitted that because the thumb is taped up, he lacks some of the flexibility he normally has on both sides of the ball. You couldn’t tell yesterday.
Gardner was retired in his first at-bat yesterday, making him 0-for-3 since hurting the thumb, then didn’t make an out the rest of the afternoon. He walked and scored in the fourth, singled and stole second in the fifth, singled to drive in a run in the sixth and walked to wrap up his day in the eighth. In his last 10 games, the speedster’s now gone 13-for-26.
Meanwhile, Gardner closed the seventh inning with a terrific catch of Carlos Lee’s drive, making a leaping grab and smacking into the wall.
“[The thumb’s] probably not 100 percent,” he said. “But it’s something that I have to deal with, and it’s a case of just not making it worse.”
